The Localist: Eileen’s Pralines

Eileen Scheib began baking her praline bars in her hometown of Dallas more than 30 years ago. The family recipe had been passed down from generation to generation and was always a big hit with Eileen’s husband and son.

The pralines themselves start with a honey graham cracker base and are then topped with brown sugar, butter, and Texas-grown pecans. According to her husband, Jack, their son began encouraging his mother to start selling her pralines to the public more than a decade ago. Finally, in 2011, she began that process.

They now have nine signature flavors and two seasonal flavors. The permanent flavors are original, sweet and salty, chocolate, coffee, mocha, coconut, cayenne, oatmeal (which is free of nuts and gluten). Each fall and winter they sell two of their customer’s favorites: peppermint and pumpkin spice. The baking is done by Eileen and Jack themselves with the exception of two part-time employees when they have large orders. Jack is a stock options trader by day and jokes that Eileen is his boss by night.

All flavors are available at their online store and at several farmers markets throughout the area. They also recently began shipping across the United States and offering custom packaging for wedding favors, baby showers, and corporate gifts. To find out more about Eileen’s Pralines visit their website.